HEALTH IN 1932

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1933, Page 2

HEALTH IN 1932

DECREASE IN DISEASE

INCIDENCE OF INFLUENZA

WELLINGTON, January 18,

A statement made in Wellington this week by the dnoc.tor of public hygiene, Dr T. McKibbin, shows that the year 1932 was comparatively free from infectious diseases so far as New Zealand was concerned. Dr McKibbin said that the total uumbeihpf- '-cases of notifiable diseases, for the year was 3685, as compared with 5013 in 1931. The chief diseases of the notifiable order were a s follows,, the figures, for 1931 being shown in parentheses:—Scarlet fever, 529 (1301); diphtheria, 802 (1327); influenza, ’2l (217); typoid, 185 (161); tuberculosis, 9111 (iIC9); puerperal fever, 92 (160) ; abortions, 133 (133); tetanus, 17 (21); hydatids, 36 (59); infantile paralysis, 25 (148). Dr McKibbin said that a moderate form of influenza was at present affecting the Northern Hemisphere, and particularly England, and it was possible that some reflection of it might be experienced here next winter. The epidemic at Homo was apparently of a moderate type, and with greater immunity which existed in a country like New Zealand it might be very light, if it came a all. Such epidemics, however, hgd the effect of leaving in their train bronchitis and other lung troubles.

“Tho worst form of influenza, such as that experienced in New Zealand in October and November, 1918, arose, f believe, out of conditions supervening on the war in Europe,” said Dr McKibbin. With the good building up we have in New Zealand, establishing to some exent an immunity, if was scarcely likely to be repeated. Some authorities, who support the wave theory, expressed the belief that there would bo another epidemic five years later, but it never came, though New Zealand was on its toes over the matter.

“There are two distinct schools of thought in connection with these epidemics. One is that practical immunity can be established by building up against it in our life habits, conditions of living, good food, fresh air, etc. That is the theory held by Sir Truby King in respect to children.. The other school believes in the wave theory, holding that certain epidemics will recur after a time—that a people will become immune for a time by experience of the disease, but after that period is up another wave may come along.”

Dr McKibbin said that only seven cases of infantile paralysis were reported in December and a like number in the previous month. The figures for last year showed a great decrease, a,s compared with 1031, and as the season was now well advanced it did not seem that there would be much of the disenso this summer.